First of all, let it be noted that the bird of prey in my last entry is not, as I’d imagined, a gyrfalcon. With the help of several more pairs of eyes (thanks again, bird forum), it’s been firmly pegged as a peregrine. Still a new one on me!
That said, today is dirty, dirty bird sex day. And it’s funny I should begin this entry with a note on something I got wrong, because remember that post I made a few weeks ago, about the massive sparrowfight? Well, I caught a male sparrow doing the same stupid bird dance all over my balcony, today, and this time, the female didn’t peck him hard and kick him off the rail. This time, it ended, ehh, a bit differently.
(Oontz! Oontz! Oontz! Hee-hee-hee. Boom-chicka-wow.)
Yeah, apparently, that aggressive posturing is more of a mating display. One can learn a couple of things from this:
1) House sparrows are more flexible than you’d think. They can stick their tails up at a ninety-degree angle; did you know?
2) Rejection really hurts, when you’re a sparrow. Best not do the birdly equivalent of David Brent’s MC Hammer-meets-Flashdance caper; she’ll peck your brains out.
Dance! Dance!
I see you, baby….
–and the female —
Keep going, buddy; she likes it!
— and the male, again —
Wiggle-wiggle-wiggle-wiggle-wiggle!
Later on, I caught the gulls up to the same sort of business. I saw a crow eat their last batch of eggs, a couple of days ago, so it seems they’re trying again. Really, they ought to find a better spot for their nest. That roof is lousy with crows. And building maintenance doesn’t much seem to appreciate gull nests, either. I’m afraid their efforts are doomed — but they’re certainly going at it with enthusiasm. Of course, I left the balcony once they got going, and gave them a spot of privacy —
–oh, wait:
Oh, yeah! That’s right! Uh-huh!
…that was so good, I’m just going to nip your head. (Peck.)
Ahem.
And, to end on the note I began, I caught another glimpse of the falcon, this afternoon. I hope it comes closer, next time; I’d like a proper shot.
The peregrine falcon came back, today. I know it’s the same one, because it has the same worn patches on its wings and tail. Once again, it didn’t come anywhere near me. But this time, I got an identifiable shot.
